After finishing lunch at home, Ron set out with Ed to a remote area deep within the Lightning Mountain Range, near the Yunlei Gorge; the region had been specifically designated for Killer Bees' training, a place traditionally used by Jinchūriki to unleash their full power without fear of collateral damage. Similar to the Hollow Mountain Research Center, it was far from Kumogakure's training grounds surrounding the village, ensuring both secrecy and safety.
As they arrived, Ed took in the surroundings with a critical eye. The location he had found matched Ron's criteria perfectly. It was a high-altitude plateau, reminiscent of the Altiplano Plateau of South America, the Deccan Plateau of India, or even the Tibetan Plateau from Ron's previous world. While such landforms were not uncommon in the Lightning Mountain Range, most were plagued by violent thunderstorms. This one, however, had unique features that set it apart.
Ed exhaled, turning to Ron. "This is the best one I could find. It's one of the highest and smallest plateaus in the entire range, tightly enclosed by towering peaks. Despite being a plateau, it feels more like a natural basin, with clouds constantly swirling around the surrounding mountains."
He gestured towards the landscape. "Because of this, rain and thunderstorms occur here throughout the year, flooding the basin regularly. Even though waterfalls spill from the cliffs, draining the excess water, the water level remains remarkably stable throughout the year, so does the thunderstorm, which seems to never end."
Ed paused before adding, "But Ron… this place is always surrounded by thunderclouds. With the way the mountains curve, rain clouds don't just pass through; they ride the slopes, gathering here even at this height. Normally, most mountain peaks sit above the clouds, but not this one."
Crossing his arms, Ed gave Ron a thoughtful look. "Honestly, I was intrigued when you first asked me to investigate flooded plateaus at this altitude. Back when we were scouting locations to build dams, the infrastructure department from the research center ruled this place out because of its extreme elevation and weather conditions. It's too unstable for regular use. But you insisted on looking for such a place, so I have to ask, what exactly do you have planned for this place?"
Ron was lost in thought.
"The world of Naruto was vast. Based on my surveys, it was about 1.5 times the size of Earth in terms of surface area. However, despite its size, the dominance of ninjutsu and ninja villages was largely confined to this continent, the largest landmass, along with its surrounding islands and archipelagos. The remaining three continents existed, but even the largest among them was barely a third of this main landmass, where the Five Great Nations and their ninja villages were located."
"Unlike how it was portrayed in the anime, the world here is not as seamlessly connected or unexplored. The lack of technology restricts travel for ordinary people, making large-scale movement between continents rare. However, for ninjas, these limitations barely matter. Their influence spans the entire world, and mapping the planet was never a challenge for them."
"Even though distance posed a problem for civilians, the five major ninja villages still received requests from all over the world. The Five Great Nations held the largest populations and landmasses, making them the center of power. While the smaller continents housed independent nations, they lacked the same scale and military strength. Most of their ninja villages, if they existed at all, were minor, led by mere Jōnin-level shinobi. During the great wars, no major village even considered conquering these distant lands; they were too far away, too insignificant to be worth the effort."
"Kumogakure and the Land of Lightning had briefly considered trade with these other continents, but for now, it wasn't a priority. Economically and strategically, these lands held little value compared to the established power structures. Though the Five Great Nations didn't directly govern these distant territories, their presence was still felt; after all, they took on missions from across the world, their influence extended even beyond their borders."
"Most of these continents were barren or sparsely populated. Even the Land of Lightning, despite its vast landmass comparable to the United States, was only ranked fourth in overall area among the Five Great Nations. Yet, its population alone surpassed that of all the smaller continents combined."
"In the end, these lands were seen merely as sources of missions, not as territories worth ruling. Ordinary people engaged in some trade with them, but nothing nearly as mysterious or grand as what Boruto later depicted."
Ron's gaze sharpened as he came to a firm conclusion.
"The Naruto world I inhabit is not the same as the one shown in the anime, especially not Boruto, but I still have to be careful about the Moon."